M. Bundschuh’s research while affiliated with Goethe University Frankfurt and other places

Zusammenfassung Die vorliegende Übersicht zum Tumormarker AFP wird im Rahmen der Serie „Tumormarker“ des Zentralblatts für Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsschutz und Ergonomie publiziert, die sich mit dem immer häufigeren Gebrauch der Bestimmung von spezifischen Markern bei sogenannten Managervorsorgen und Check-up-Untersuchungen beschäftigt. AFP eignet sich grundsätzlich nicht für solche Vorsorgen, sondern ist ein Marker zur Therapie‑, Verlaufs- und Rezidivkontrolle von Hodentumoren. Hier zeigt dieser eine hohe Sensitivität und Spezifität, wobei der Marker aber auf keinen Fall zur Frühdiagnostik eingesetzt werden soll.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is linked to cervical cancer, which represents the world's fourth most common cancer in women. So far, no detailed map of the worldwide HPV research architecture has been constructed. Hence, this study focuses on the chronological development and geographical distribution of the global HPV-specific publications and evaluates citation-based parameters as well as socioeconomic features of the publishing countries. In total, 29,330 HPV-related publications were identified. The US was the leading country with 12,270 publications. Only high-income-countries were found in the ranking of the fifteen most active countries with Germany, France, and Japan among the top five. Analysis of HPV research activity in relation to the economic strength demonstrated a lead position of Finland and Sweden with an average of 2248.78 and 1924.67 HPV-related publications per GDP in 1000 bn US-$, respectively. The most active upper-middle-income country was Mexico (416.78 HPV-related publications per GDP in 1000 bn US-$). India as lower-middle-income country reached a value of 279.78 HPV-related publications per GDP in 1000 bn US-$. Collaboration analysis pointed to the US as the center of the 4517 international HPV collaborations. The worldwide HPV-research landscape is dominated by North American and Western European countries. By contrast, a high prevalence of HPV-related cervical cancer is documented for low-income countries. Hence, HPV-related public health interventions and prevention research specifically tailored to these countries needs to be fostered by monetary support and international collaborations.

Zusammenfassung Gebärmutterhalskrebs ist weltweit die vierthäufigste Krebsart bei Frauen und die siebthäufigste Krebserkrankung insgesamt. Nach Schätzungen der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) erkrankten im Jahr 2012 insgesamt 528.000 Frauen an einem invasiven Zervixkarzinom und 266.000 Frauen verstarben daran. Während es in Deutschland nur noch die zwölfhäufigste Krebsart der Frau darstellt, ist es in vielen weniger entwickelten Ländern immer noch das Karzinom mit den meisten Todesfällen. Über 80 % der betroffenen Frauen stammen aus Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern, in denen Präventionsmaßnahmen nicht – oder nicht ausreichend – durchgeführt werden.

Uterine fibroids can severely impact a woman's quality of life, result in significant morbidity and are a leading indication for hysterectomy. Many aspects of the disease remain largely obscure. Despite these knowledge gaps, no detailed maps of the global fibroid research architecture have yet been generated. This study used the NewQIS approach to assess worldwide research productivity, encompassing numerous aspects of the scientific output, quality and socioeconomic features. Regression analysis indicated an increase in fibroid research activity in the investigated time periods. Global research output was dominated by leading Western countries, with the USA at the forefront, but also by East Asian countries. Socioeconomic benchmarking revealed that Taiwan had the highest fibroid research activity per GDP, with a calculated average of 279.46 fibroid-related publications per 1000 billion USD GDP. Finland was the most active country with respect to research activity per population size. Subject area analyses revealed major differences in research focuses, for example 'Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging' was assigned to 29.92% of South Korean and to only 10.38% of US-American publications. In conclusion, this analysis of global fibroid research activity illustrates a multitude of important features ranging from quantitative and semi-qualitative fibroid research aspects to socioeconomic benchmarking.

Objective Worldwide, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) represents the predominant viral agent causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children. To conduct research and tackle existing healthcare disparities, RSV-related research activities around the globe need to be described. Hence, we assessed the associated scientific output (represented by research articles) by geographical, chronological and socioeconomic criteria and analysed the authors publishing in the field by gender. Also, the 15 most cited articles and the most prolific journals were identified for RSV research. Design Retrospective, descriptive study. Setting The NewQIS (New Quality and Quantity Indices in Science) platform was employed to identify RSV-related articles published in the Web of Science until 2013. We performed a numerical analysis of all articles, and examined citation-based aspects (eg, citation rates); results were visualised by density equalising mapping tools. Results We identified 4600 RSV-related articles. The USA led the field; US-American authors published 2139 articles (46.5%% of all identified articles), which have been cited 83 000 times. When output was related to socioeconomic benchmarks such as gross domestic product or Research and Development expenditures, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia and Chile were ranked in leading positions. A total of 614 articles on RSV (13.34% of all articles) were attributed to scientific collaborations. These were primarily established between high-income countries. The gender analysis indicated that male scientists dominated in all countries except Brazil. Conclusions The majority of RSV-related research articles originated from high-income countries whereas developing nations showed only minimal publication productivity and were barely part of any collaborative networks. Hence, research capacity in these nations should be increased in order to assist in addressing inequities in resource allocation and the clinical burden of RSV in these countries.

Zusammenfassung Die Gelbfiebererkrankung ist eine akute virale Infektionserkrankung, die durch das Gelbfiebervirus verursacht wird. Aktuell kam es auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent zu einer erneuten Gelbfieberepidemie, beginnend in Angola und übergreifend auf die Demokratische Republik Kongo. Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) unterstützt die betroffenen Länder mit Massenimpfkampagnen.

Die Alexander-Technik wirkt über eine Veränderungen pathologischer Haltungs- und Bewegungsgewohnheiten. Dieser zweite Beitrag stellt die denkbaren Einsatzbereiche unter Berücksichtigung ausgewählter Studien vor.

Die Alexander-Technik ist eine nach ihrem Begründer Frederick Matthias Alexander vor über 100 Jahren begründete Methode mit ganzheitlichem Ansatz. Im Fokus steht das Erkennen von beschwerdeauslösenden oder leistungslimitierenden Muskelspannungsmustern als Folge von Fehlhaltungen und deren aktive Minderung bzw. Auflösung. Der Einsatz dieser Technik ist in zahlreichen Bereichen der arbeitsmedizinischen Prävention denkbar. Im vorliegenden Beitrag wird diese Methode vorgestellt.